Political Posters

The “All Of Us Or None” (AOUON) archive project was started by Free Speech Movement activist Michael Rossman in 1977 to gather and document posters of modern progressive movements in the United States. Though some early works are included, its focus is on the domestic political poster renaissance that began in 1965 and continues to this day. When Rossman died May 12, 2008 his family donated the collection to the Oakland Museum of California. More …

The Archive gathered posters from all streams of progressive activity — from movements of protest, liberation, and affirmative action, trade union and community struggles, to electoral and environmental organizing, community services, and visionary manifestos. It is strongest in work from the San Francisco Bay Area, but its scope is national: approximately one-quarter of its holdings come from out of state, primarily New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. These are complemented by a representation of international work. The collection consists of approximately 24,500 distinct titles.

The collection includes examples from well-known graphic artists including Malaquías Montoya, Emory Douglas, Rachael Romero, Rupert Garcia, Yolanda Lopez, Favianna Rodriguez, Carlos Cortez, Nancy Hom, Juan Fuentes, and Jos Sances, as well as material from seminal collective workshops such as La Raza Silkscreen, the Royal Chicano Air Force, Japantown Art and Media, Kearny Street Workshop, and Inkworks Press. Perhaps more important, the depth and breadth of the collection reveals the contribution of numerous lesser known or even anonymous artists whose cumulative impact on this democratic public art form has yet to be properly understood.

The cataloging of the AOUON Archive was made possible by a generous grant from the Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation.

View results as Grid View results as List Browse Full Collection Advanced Search

Palestine Year 1987 Poster has a gray printed background. At the top is "Palestine / Year" in purple with the "S" formed by a Palestinian flag. At the center is a multicolroed stylized image of Joseph, Mary and baby...	Gegen 1978 Poster has black ink printed on orange paper. Centered at the top is "gegen". Poster has four black and orange photos or villages and people, including a man holding a gun centered at the bottom....
Long Live Peace: Love Live Freedom Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a stylized image of a rainbow over a valley filled with red flowers surrounded by green mountains. On top of the rainbow is a white dove with red, yellow...	Untitled 1978 Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a black background with a black and white illustration of people with guns, axes, hammer and scythes attacking politicians/government officials. Behind...
untitled (sweeping the earth) Late 20th Early 21st Century #VALUE!	World Solidarity with Cuba Inkworks Press, Organization of Solidarity with the People of Asia Africa and Latin America (OSPAAAL), Rafael Enriquez Poster has a black printed background. At the top is "world solidarity with" in English and other languages followed by "Cuba" in red. At the bottom is a stylized image of a...
Iran 1988 Poster has red and black ink printed on white paper. At the center is a repeated image of figures blindfolded and tied as a group, shouting. At the top right is "Iran" with a figure bound to the...	Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a yellow printed background. Across the top is "Bread, Work & Freedom / For The People Of Chile" in red. Below the text is a stylized image of a yellow and orange figure with blue,...
Respect United Posters Ltd., printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a black and white image of a man painting text on a wall - "War / Wel[crossed out] fare / State". THe man wears an arm band with "New / Labor" printed on...	Palastina Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper with a black and white image of figures in head scarves holding guns, with the barrel of a gun at the right. A red, black, green and white Palestinian flag waves from...
It's Your Choice: Use Your Vote Red Wedge, printer, publisher 1987 Poster printed on white paper. At the top and bottom are red strips with black text reading "it''s your choice / use your vote". At the center is a stylized illustration of two female figures...	There is Only One Loony Left Red Wedge 1987 Poster has white unpritned edges enclosing a blue, black and white photo of a woman - Margaret Thatcher. At the left is "There Is / Only One / Loony / Left..." in white. At the bottom is a strip...
The Atrocity Exhibition Spider Web Offset 1986 Poster has a black printed background with a brown, black and white stylized image of a figure''s face at the top. A strip of white over the figure''s nose has black text with the OBAALA logo and...	Preparing for Power 1987 Poster has a black printed background with a black and white dotted image of a man''s face. At the right is "a week of discussion on the state / of the world and how to change it / weekend focuses...
Vote Her Out Red Wedge, publisher, printer 1987 Poster has a blue and white background mosaic image of a woman''s face formed with torn paper. At the center, a stylized black and white figure stands facing the image. At the left center is "Vote...	Animal Research Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black and red ink printed on white paper. At the top left is "Animal / Research / the scientific secret / of the country ~ / And / You Pay!" At the center is a stylized syringe with "Do...
African Proverb Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "until the lions have their historians / tales of hunting will always / glorify the hunter / African Proverb". Below the text is a...	Women Under Apartheid Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black and white background photo of an African American woman. Across the top is "Women Under / Apartheid". At the right center is "...white think that with / their money they can buy...
Social Development: The Peoples' Right Gladys Acosta, Organization of Solidarity with the People of Asia Africa and Latin America (OSPAAAL) Poster has a dark blue printed background with a stylized, multicolor image of a man in a hat carrying a white bag over his shoulder with the sun blazing in the background. At the top left is...	1981 Hunger Strike 20th Anniversary Memorial March 2001 Poster has a black printed background. At the top is a white strip with "1981 Hunger Strike / 20th Anniversary Memorial March" in black. Below the text is a black and white collage of images from...
West Belfast 4th Film Festival 1999 Poster has a black printed background with a black and white photo at the bottom of a black face floating above whisps of white fog. At the top are black and white stills from films above...	Vote for Light Red Wedge, printer, publisher 1987 Poster printed on white paper. Centered at the top is a woman''s laughing face tinted blue with green eyes. Rays from the eyes moved downward left and right at an angle, forming a blue...
Encuentro Chicano José Antonio Burciaga 1990 Poster has a pale green printed background. At the top is "Encuentro Chicano / Mexico 1990 / del 28 al 30 de agosto" in black. Below the text is a stylized multicolor image of a man in...	Una Irregularidad 1980 Poster has a blue printed background. At the top is a maze of green pipes. At the center of the image is a gree circle with blue pipes. At the bottom of the poster is "Una Irregularidad / puede...